Gauge hatch



March 3, 1953 F. G. D. MULLER 2,630,242

GAUGE HATCH Filed Sept. 5, 1947 s Sheds-Sheet 1 March 3, 1953 as. D. MULLER 2,630,242

.GAUGE HATCH Filed-Sept. 5. 1947 :s Sheets-Sheet?! March'3, 1953 F. G. D. MULLER GAUGE HATCH 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 5, 1947 Patented Mar. 3, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GAUGE HATCH Frans G. D. Muller, La Porte, Tex. Application September 5, 1947, ScrialNo. 772.311

, 6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a gauge hatch.

An object of the invention is to provide a hatch of the character described specially designed for use on oil tanks and which is of such construction as to reduce the waste due to the escape of hydrocarbon vapors when gauging, or taking samples from, the tank.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a gauge hatch for use on oil tanks which will reduce the danger to the gauger due to the escape of tank vapors containing hydrogen-sulphide or other toxic gases while gauging, ortaking samples from, an oil tank.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the fol-lowing specification which is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the gauge hatch shown in closed position.

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a vertical, sectional view of the gauge hatch shown in closed position.

Figure 4 is a transverse, sectional view thereof taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3, and

Figure 5 is a vertical, sectional view showing the gauge hatch in open position.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals of reference designate the same parts in each of the figures, the numeral I designates a tubular base for the hatch which is adapted to be screwed into the top of an oil tank 2.

The numeral 3 designates the receiving chamber in which an inside cover 4 is mounted,

Mounted in suitable transversely aligned bearings in, the chamber 3 there is a transverse shaft 5, one end of which extends out beyond the chamber and fixed on this extended end there is a foot pedal 5.

Within the chamber 3 and fixed on the shaft 5 there is an inwardly extended arm I which has a pivotal connection with the top of the cover 4.

Also fixed on the shaft 5 and in parallel relationship with the arm I there is a weight army 8 terminating in a weight 9 which normally holds the cover 4 closed and which automatically closes it when the foot pedal 6 is released. When closed the cover 4 formsa seal with the upper end of the base I.

The upper end of the chamber, or casing, 3 is reduced in diameter forming an upwardly extended tubular neck It whose upper end is preferablytur'ned at an angle to the axis of said neck and is formed with an annular seat I I.

Beneath said overturned end of the neck II there is an outwardly extended lu I2 having a 2 transverse bearing to receive the shaft I3 and there is an arm I4 to the upper end of which the outside cover I5 has a pivotal, rotatable, connection- The other end of said arm is bifurcated and embraces the lug I2 and has" aligned bearings to receive the ends of the shaft I3. I These arms are extended beyond the lug I2 thus forming stops, as I6, which limit the opening movement of the outside cover I5 by their engagement with the neck I0 when said outside cover is in open position so that said cover will fall by gravity into closed position, under the influence of the weight of a hand lever I1. I

This outside cover-I5 may be opened by means of a hand lever H which is fixed to the. shaft I3 and extends across alongside the neck Ill and is of sufiicient length and weight to normally hold the cover I5 securely closed. 7 V

The casing, or. chamber, 3 is rotatably supported on an annular ledge I8 on the base I so that said casing and the assembly carried thereby can be readily turned relative to the base.

T make provision for this turnin the lower end of the casing 3 is provided with a laterally extended ear 20 whereby the operator, with his foot, can readily rotate the upper assembly but said upper assembly is maintained against detachment from the base by set screws,- as 2 I, which are screwed through the lower end of the casing 3 and whose inner ends project into an annular groove 22 about the base I above the ledge I8. a

The object of this arrangement to permit the upper assembly to rotate about the base is to enable the gauger to turn the hatchinto position so that he may stand with his back toward the oncoming wind while gauging or sampling, the tank to the end that toxic vapors will be carried away from him.

The seat I I is provided with a narrow shallow groove 23 of a width and depth to snugly, but loosely, receive the tape line, or rope, 24 to which the plumb bob 25 is attached.

When the hatch has been properly positioned with respect to the direction of the wind the operatormay open the outside cover I5 by lifting the hand lever I! and may insert the plumb bob into the receiving chamber with the tape in the groove 23. The outside cover I5 is then closed by releasing the hand lever H.

The foot pedalfi is then depressedby the gauger and the inside cover imoved to open. position; as indicated in. Figure 5';v The plumb bob may then be lowered into the tank with the inside cover 4 open and the outside cover I5 closed.

A gauge reading may then be taken by pullin the tape through the slot 23 and without opening the outside cover IS. The clearance between the slot 23 and the outside cover is great enough so as not to wipe 011 the oil from the numbered side of the tape.

The small amount of gas that escapes through the clearance space of slot 23 around the tape will be carried by the wind away from the gauger.

After the tank has been gauged and the plumb bob is pulled back up into the receiving chamber 3 the foot pedal 6 may then be released which allows the inside cover 4 to move to closed position and to shut oif the vapors coming from the tank.

The outside cover I5 is then opened and the plumb bob is removed from the hatch.

The stop 26 comes into contact with the inside wall of the casing 3 when the inside cover reaches its Vertical or open position. When the foot pedal 6 is released the counterweight 9 will automatically move the cover 4 to closed position.

It may be stated that instead of the plumb bob 25 a thief, or container, may be attached to the inner end of the tape, or cord, 24 and lowered into the tank in a manner similar to that above explained and a sample of the oil in the tank, at any required depth, may be obtained and withdrawn by the same procedure as the withdrawal of the plumb bob.

The drawings and description are illustrative merely while the broad principle of the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A hatch for a tank comprising, a tubular base adapted to be mounted on a tank, a casing containing a receiving chamber and rotatably mounted on the base, an upper seat on the casing, a lower seat on the base within the chamber, upper and lower independently operable covers arranged to automatically close onto said seats, to seal oil the chamber from the tank and from the outside atmosphere, the hatch having a passageway between the upper seat and its cover to receive an operating tape or cord, for lowering a plumb bob or a sample container into the tank.

2. A batch for a tank comprising, a tubular base adapted to be mounted on a tank and having an upper end seat, a casing containing a receiving chamber and rotatably mounted on the base and enclosing said seat, a seat on the upper end of the casing, upper and lower covers arranged to automatically close onto said seats to seal off the chamber from the tank and from the outside atmosphere, said hatch having a passageway into the chamber between the upper cover and its seat to receive an operating tape or cord for lowering and withdrawing a plumb bob or a sample containing into or from the tank.

3. A hatch for a tank comprising, a tubular connection adapted to be mounted on and connected into a tank, a casing containing a receiving chamber and rotatably mounted on said connection, a lower seat on the connection within the chamber, an upper seat on the casing, upper and lower covers which, when opened, are arranged to automatically close onto said seats to close off the chamber from the outside atmosphere and from said tank, means positioned to be operated simultaneously or alternatively by a common operator and connected to said covers whereby the covers may be opened said hatch having a passageway between the upper cover and its seat and means accessible to an operator for opening said covers.

4. A hatch for a tank comprising, a tubular connection adapted to be mounted on and connected into a tank, a casing containing a receiving chamber and rotatably mounted on said connection, a lower seat on the connection within the chamber an upper seat on the casing, upper and lower covers which, when opened, are arranged to automatically close onto said seats to close off the chamber from the outside atmosphere and from said tank, said hatch having a passageway between the upper cover and its seat for the passage of a tape or cord, means accessible to an operator for opening the lower cover, a weight normally tending to close the lower cover, means accessible to an operator for opening the upper cover, said cover opening means being so relatively located that a common operator may simultaneously control both covers.

5. A hatch for a tank comprising, a tubular connection adapted to be mounted on and connected into a tank, a casing containing a receiving chamber mounted on said connection, a lower seat on the connection within the chamber, an upper seat on the casing, upper and lower covers which, when opened, are arranged to automatically close onto said seats to close off the chamber from the outside atmosphere and from said tank, said covers being spaced apart a suflicient distance to provide space between them for a plumb bob or a sample receiving container, said hatch having a passageway between the upper cover and its seat for the passage of a tape or cord for operating said plumb bob or container into the tank or into the space between said covers and separate means accessible to a common operator for opening said covers either simultaneously or alternatively.

6. In a hatch for a tank a tubular connection adapted to be mounted on and connected into the tank, a casing containing a receiving chamber mounted on said connection, a seat on said connection within the chamber, a cover within the chamber which when open is arranged to automatically close onto said seat to close 011 the chamber from the tank, means externally of the chamber operative to move said cover to open position, a weight connected to said opening means and arranged to be operated by gravity to move said cover to closed position and closure means operable independently of the cover to close off the chamber from the outside atmosphere.

FRANS G. D. MULLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,531,274 Cowden Mar. 31, 1925 1,626,789 Creed May 3, 1927 1,740,522 Pickering Dec. 24, 1929 1,995,960 Boyd Mar. 26, 1935 2,014,030 Punke Sept. 10, 1935 2,054,145 Tandy Sept. 15, 1936 2,200,630 McCabe May 14, 1940 

